Cash Flow Forecasting: How to Take Control of Your Finances
Cash flow forecasting helps you see what's coming before it arrives. Here's how to build a forecast that keeps your business in control.
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ASCEND
ADVISORY
C-Suite Financial Leadership
Without the C-Suite Salary
Outsourced CFO services for Australian businesses ready to scale. Strategic financial planning, management reporting and board-level advisory from a CPA-led team with real commercial experience.
45 minutes, online. Within five business days you receive a one-page financial read of your business: where cash is going, where margin is leaking, and the three numbers we would watch first. Yours to keep.
$150K+
Saved vs. full-time CFO hire
CPA
MAcc, BCom (ANU)
$1M-$20M
Revenue businesses we serve
Sound familiar?
You've Built a Successful Business. Now You Need Strategic Financial Guidance.
Your revenue has passed $1M but your financial visibility hasn't kept pace
You're making major decisions based on gut feel, not data
You need a CFO's perspective but can't justify a $180K salary
Your accountant gives you last year's numbers. You need next quarter's forecast.
You're preparing for investment, acquisition, or a major growth phase
Your board or investors are demanding better financial reporting
If any of these resonate, an outsourced CFO could transform your business.
What we deliver
Your Outsourced CFO: Embedded in Your Business
We don't just crunch numbers. We partner with you to build financial clarity, drive strategy, and unlock growth.
01
Financial Strategy & Planning
Cash flow forecasting, scenario modelling, growth planning and strategic financial roadmaps aligned to your business goals.
02
Management Reporting
Monthly dashboards with the KPIs that matter. Actuals vs. budget analysis, trend identification and actionable insights, not just numbers.
03
Budgeting & Forecasting
Annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and variance analysis. Know where you're headed before you get there.
04
Board & Investor Reporting
Professional board packs, investor updates, governance support. We can attend your board meetings and present financial reports directly.
05
Business Performance
Margin analysis, pricing strategy, cost optimisation, profitability by product/service/client. Find the levers that drive your bottom line.
06
Growth Advisory
M&A support, funding applications, expansion planning, due diligence. Strategic financial guidance for your biggest decisions.
The smart choice
Full-Time CFO vs. Ascend Advisory
Full-Time CFO
Ascend Advisory
Annual cost
$180,000 - $250,000+
From $36,000
Super, leave, on-costs
+$25,000 - $40,000
Included
Recruitment cost
$30,000 - $50,000
$0
Time to hire
3 - 6 months
Weeks, not months
Flexibility
Fixed employment
Scales with your business
Technology & systems
Depends on individual
Cloud-native, automated dashboards
Backup if unavailable
None
Full team coverage
Engagement models
Choose Your Level of CFO Partnership
Every engagement is customised to your business. These frameworks give you a starting point; your scope, inclusions and fee are confirmed in your written proposal.
CFO Essentials
For businesses wanting financial clarity and structure
From $3,000/month
- Monthly management reports & KPI dashboard
- Quarterly strategy session
- Annual budget setup
- Cash flow monitoring
- Agreed advisory time between sessions
Most Popular
CFO Growth
For businesses in active growth mode
From $5,000/month
- Everything in CFO Essentials, plus:
- More frequent check-in meetings
- Rolling 12-month forecasts
- Board/investor reporting
- Pricing & margin analysis
- Expanded advisory time
CFO Strategic
For businesses making transformational decisions
From $8,000/month
- Everything in CFO Growth, plus:
- Embedded in your leadership team
- Attend board meetings & present
- M&A / due diligence support
- Funding & investment applications
- Priority access to your CFO
CPA Australia
MAcc (ANU)
BCom (ANU)
Advisory leadership
Nicholas Love CPA
CPA, MAcc, BCom (ANU). Strategic Financial Advisor.
“We don't just give you numbers. We give you the financial clarity and strategic confidence to make your biggest business decisions with certainty.”
Nicholas brings a rare combination of academic rigour and commercial pragmatism. With a Master of Accounting from ANU, CPA qualification, and hands-on experience in commerce, sales, project management and operations, he understands business from the inside, not just the balance sheet.
Our advisory clients range from $1M startups to established enterprises, across industries including professional services, medical practices, eCommerce, trades and not-for-profit. He serves as a board advisor to several organisations and brings governance expertise alongside financial strategy.
Learn More About Nicholas →
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How is an outsourced CFO different from my accountant?
Your accountant looks backwards, preparing tax returns and compliance reports based on what already happened. An outsourced CFO looks forward, building forecasts, identifying trends, modelling scenarios, and providing strategic recommendations so you can make better decisions about what's coming next. We work alongside your accountant, not in place of them.
How much time do you spend with us each month?
It depends on your engagement level, and the time is agreed in your proposal. As a guide, CFO Essentials covers monthly reporting and analysis with a quarterly strategy session, CFO Growth adds more frequent meetings and rolling forecasts, and CFO Strategic involves us directly in your leadership team.
Can you attend our board meetings?
Yes. Board packs and attendance at board meetings can be included in CFO Growth and CFO Strategic engagements, as agreed in your proposal. We present the financial reports, answer questions and contribute to strategic discussions. This is one of the most valued aspects of our service.
What size businesses do you work with?
Our outsourced CFO services are designed for businesses with revenue from $1M to $20M+ that need strategic financial guidance but aren't ready for (or don't want) a full-time CFO hire. If you're a smaller business just starting out, our bookkeeping and advisory services may be a better fit initially.
How quickly can we see results?
Most clients see a step-change in financial visibility within the first 30 days. Your first management report pack is delivered on the timetable we agree at onboarding. Strategic insights and cost savings usually emerge within the first quarter as we build a deeper understanding of your business.
Is there a minimum commitment?
Yes. Engagements have an initial minimum term, so there is enough time to onboard, build your reporting framework and deliver meaningful results. The term and notice period are set out in your proposal.
Not ready to talk yet?
Start with the numbers
Free 13-week cash flow forecast template
The first thing we build for every CFO client. Yours to use, no call required.
From the blog
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ASCEND
ADVISORY
Ready for C-Suite Financial Insight?
Schedule a confidential strategy session. 45 minutes, online. Within five business days you receive a one-page financial read of your business: where cash is going, where margin is leaking, and the three numbers we would watch first. Yours to keep.